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YOU ARE NOT WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT YOU!
YOU ARE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU!
- About 58 percent of kids and teens have reported that something mean has been said about them or to them online.
- 77 percent of students have admitted to being the victim of one type of bullying or another.
- 58 percent of kids admit to never telling an adult when they’ve been the victim of a bullying attack.
(to see more statistics and view the source of statistics, GO HERE)
So when I was in Jr. High a kid named Scott decided to make it official pick on Chris Sprad day.
I remember walking into school sporting my Jordache jeans, turquoise Polo, white Barracuda jacket (couldn’t afford a Members Only) and boat shoes. I guess that my style was sissified or something because Scott called me faggot, queer and led me to believe that I was a no good piece of crap.
I wish my parents had taken the time to teach me that…
I AM NOT WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT ME!
I AM WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT ME!
Parents, your kids will be tempted to believe the lies launched at them by the enemy this school year! They will be tempted to believe that…
- They’re not good enough
- They don’t have what it takes
- Because they didn’t make the team they are unworthy
- If they don’t start they suck
- They are stupid if they don’t make A’s and B’s
- They are ugly and a nobody
This is a lesson that so many parents forget to teach, but this may be the SINGLE MOST important lesson that you could ever deposit deep into your daughters DNA.
You gotta teach your kids that…
- THEY ARE THE SON’S AND DAUGHTERS OF THE LIVING GOD: John 1:12
- THEY ARE THE FRIEND OF JESUS: John 15:15
- THEY ARE NO LONGER A SLAVE TO SIN: Romans 6:6
- THEY ARE ACCEPTED BY CHRIST: Romans 15:7
- THEY ARE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Will you commit to having this conversation with your son/daughter? If so, leave a comment and let me know that you’re in.
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I’m having this conversation with my kids today. I have already seen how others’ comments affect my kids. My daughter especially and she is just 6. I’m having them look up the verses and read them to me so we can have a discussion about each of them.
Thanks
Love that Shawn! Let me know how it goes w/ your kiddos.
I am IN!!! I will have this conversation soon! Thanks for shining light on what is really important!! Angela
Love that your having the talk Angela.
Definitely will be sharing this with our girls as they head to school this year. Thank you!
awesome! got another convo for you tomorrow.
My daughter is 10 and going into 5th grade this year and I’m happy to say that we’ve already had several of these types of conversations – you are special because God created you – but I love the verses that you included – I’m definitely revisiting this w/ verses in hand and including my 6yr. little guy too – Thanks
love that you guys are intentionally having these convo’s…
A good word! This is a conversation that is needed periodically, I think, and we try to enforce it with prayer for our girls as we drop them off each day (no bus service at our school).
We also need to address the flip side of this — encouraging our kids to (1) not participate in anything that tears other kids down, and (2) being leaders in building others up. May kids of the King not only know they are loved, but be bold in loving others, as well.
Keep up the great input!
love the idea of having this convo every morning before school!
Our conversation was sort of a mini devotional and went really well. It’s rough seeing kids my daughters age dealing with these kinds of issues already.
Brad, I love the idea of reinforcing the “flip side of this”. I have taught my son to stand up for what is right and really need to be more intentional avout instilling this trait in my daughter as well.
Tomorrow I will be talking to them about “building others up”. That can be huge.
Thanks
Good stuff Shawn! I agree…great stuff from Brad as well. We will be hitting that convo on Tuesday!
Amen to that as well as the “talk” about standing up for what is right/truth and being a FRIEND to all.
I just had that convo with my 10 year old today about what others may say/do.. what will he say/do and that he always has a safe place with us etc.
this is great stuff! love that you guys are proactively having these convo’s!
Love this!! My daughter is only 4, and starting pre-k, but I’m thinking she’s not too young to start learning and memorizing scripture, right? Any suggestions on materials or devotionals for this age?
You have to check out Dr. Tim Kimmel’s The Flag Page. It’s a great resource. http://shop.familymatters.net/product/71/Kids-Flag-Page
LOVE THIS Chris. I try to instill these things into my kids already, as well as the students in my youth group. Words are such powerful weapons – they can bring life or death – spiritually and literally.
Shawn…Team Sprad teaches that we live or die by the tongue!